For Miking Guitar Amps, sm57 or SenheiserMD421?

[The Miles Park]

I have both and have heard good things about both for guitar amps. Just debating which to use. Maybe I'll use both, but then I wouldn't have this poll.

[fooman]

Use both.... why not?
I like the 57 because it's a bit more 'grainy'. The 421 seems to be smoother. The type of music I usually record is more harsh and the amps I've recorded thus far do not translate as well to the direction I'm going with the 421.

[nanashiwanderer]

Both I prefer the MD421 for somethings. though.

[jar4ever]

Just use both unless you are can't because of channel count limitations. My favorite guitar cab mic is the SM7, sounds great almost all the time. But guitar cabs change wildly from one situation to the next, I've used just about every mic my school has on a guitar cab at one point or another, except for SDCs, don't think I've ever used an SDC on a guitar cab.

[Blue Bear Sound]

Use whichever one gives you the sound you're going for - depending on the song, one or the other is likely to sound better, even given the same player, same rig, same room... (meaning, sometimes the 57 is the most suitable for one song, and for other songs the 421 will be the better choice.)

And neither will sound good unless you're using it with a quality mic pre.

[nanashiwanderer]

And neither will sound good unless you're using it with a quality mic pre.

The MD421 though doesn't suffer as much from not having a good pre as the sm57. The SM57 through budget pres often is lacking in many depts (the body is often missing, I think you once descibed as sucking the midrange out ) gone when using it with mackies or the like, however MD421 I find does retain a midrange. This is with the firepod.

I almost always use a condensor in conjunction with a dynamic when I'm trying to mic using the budget preamps I use. In my last recording session which used all 3 of these mics, the B1 with hipass filter was a saving grace.

[phillystylec]

I know of at least one Guitarist who uses both and combines the signal and gets a sweet sound... John Petrucci.

[The Miles Park]

Cool I didnt know that, he used to be my favorite player. Thanks for all the responses so far.

[soapfloats]

I personally like both.

Each has its own sonic quality and applications.
I like putting the 57 on the edge of the cone and the 421 near the center. Placement is up to you.
Include bass roll-offs, EQ, compression, and preamp choices, and you have a combo that provides great versatility.

Really, experiment with a myriad of combos of the two, and you'll be hard pressed to need another mic for guitar amps.
Except for maybe a ribbon further back (taking phasing into consideration, of course!)
These two are surefire bets for close miking a guitar cab, given that you experiment w/ placement & EQ/comp.

[Verse]

I wouldn't use the percentage value here as a comparison, most people are going to say sm57 because that's what their told will work so that's what they use and that's what they have, it's a good go-to choice, but the advice given in the actual posts is good so I'd take that into account if your looking at the forum and trying to make a decision. but as always, try it and see, taking into account the room your in, the amp your using and blah blah blah blah ... blah!